Released in 2018, “An American Marriage” is a captivating novel written by Tayari Jones that explores the complexities of love, loyalty, and injustice. The story revolves around the lives of Roy and Celestial, a young African American couple whose lives are shattered when Roy is wrongfully convicted of a crime he did not commit. This poignant tale delves into their struggles to maintain their relationship while separated by incarceration.
Throughout the novel, “An American Marriage” offers numerous quotes that are poignant, thought-provoking, and deeply resonant. These quotes reflect the various themes explored in the book and provide readers with insights into the characters’ emotions and experiences. Whether you’re a fan of the novel or seeking inspiration, these quotes are bound to leave a lasting impact on your heart and mind.
In this article, we have compiled a list of 20 powerful quotes from “An American Marriage” that will inspire, evoke reflection, and remind us of the resilience of the human spirit.
Read these An American Marriage quotes:
“Love makes a place in your life, it makes a place for itself in your bed. Invisibly, it makes a place in your body, rerouting all your blood vessels, throbbing right alongside your heart. When it’s gone, nothing is whole again.”
“Home isn’t where you land; home is where you launch. You can’t pick your home any more than you can choose your family. In poker, you get five cards. Three of them you can swap out, but two are yours to keep: family and native land.”
“Marriage is between two people. There is no studio audience.”
“There should be a word for this brief period just after waking, a time when reality begins to reassemble itself, when consciousness asserts itself over the anaesthetized body. The mind checks each neuron one by one and makes sure it has survived the long, strange trip through the netherworld of unconsciousness.”
“I thought love was supposed to last. I thought that if someone saw you naked, they’d keep your secrets.”
“Sometimes you have to know when to let people go.”
“I believe in the power of love, the kind of love that can’t be explained away.”
“I hate to say it, but shit gets real when you’re married.”
“But home isn’t where you land; home is where you launch. You can’t pick your home any more than you can choose your family.”
“I’m just saying you can’t be sure what you’re made of until you are tested.”
“It’s strange to grieve for your former self, and still I think it’s something that any girl learns. You walk this planet for thirty years and what are you but data? A body is just data.”
“I am the type of person who likes to be in control of her life. When a situation is hopeless, I’m good at cutting my losses.”
“Sometimes it’s exhausting to be inside someone else’s pain. You can’t change it. You can’t help them. And when you’re with someone day in and day out, their pain becomes yours as well.”
“He was the one who taught me how to love. I just didn’t know it at the time.”
“Love is a haunting melody that I have never mastered. I chase after it like a ghost, and now I have chased it here, to this moment, with you.”
“You can’t always tell the outcome of a decision by its initial sound.”
“I am not a wife. I’m a widow.”
“You can’t ever predict what someone else is going to do.”
“Love is a word, and until someone gives it meaning, it has none.”
“But home isn’t where you land; home is where you launch. You can’t pick your home any more than you can choose your family.”
“There should be a word for this brief period just after waking, a time when reality begins to reassemble itself, when consciousness asserts itself over the anaesthetized body.”
These quotes from “An American Marriage” offer a glimpse into the emotional depth and complexity of the characters, as well as the universal themes of love, loyalty, and the impact of injustice. Each quote leaves a lasting impression, inviting readers to reflect on their own lives and relationships. Whether you’re a fan of the novel or simply seeking inspiration, these quotes serve as a reminder of the power of words to touch our hearts and souls.
